We seek a MS or PhD student to assist with a study on the potential impact of herbicides on at-risk butterflies. Invasive species are one of the leading threats for several at-risk butterfly species in Pacific Northwest Prairies. Selective herbicides are increasingly a preferred management tool because of their ability to target problem species with minimal impact on most native plant species. However, the impact of these herbicides on at-risk butterflies is virtually unknown. Preliminary studies suggest impacts on survivorship, development, morphology, and behavior. We are working with USFWS and other agencies working in these prairies to investigate herbicide impacts by using a mix of field, lab and quantitative techniques. We seek a Master’s student to conduct greenhouse experiments or a PhD student to combine greenhouse experiments with additional work using greenhouse, field or quantitative approaches. Please see our website for overview of our research approach and list of publications: http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/fac/schultzc/index.html
MS and PhD students are admitted through the Environmental Science Program at WSU Vancouver. The Program provides students with an interdisciplinary, applications-oriented education in environmental science. Students will be financially supported through a combination of teaching and research assistantships. Washington State University Vancouver is a new campus in the WSU system located in Vancouver, Washington just north of Portland, Oregon. It is a new and rapidly growing campus in the WSU system. Students benefit from outstanding faculty, world-class research, state-of- the-art facilities and small class sizes. For more information, see http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/programs/sci/mses.html Graduate students enrolled in the Environmental Science graduate program may also apply for WSUV GK-12 Graduate Teaching Fellowships. GK-12 Fellows serve as graduate teaching assistants in a middle-school science classroom for an entire academic year and stipends are very competitive ($30,000/year). All teaching/research assistantships include tuition waivers as part of their stipends. Interested students should send a CV/resume and a letter describing past research experience and future research interests to Cheryl Schultz, [EMAIL PROTECTED] or call 360-546-9525 for more information. Graduate applications are due January 10, 2009 for Fall 2009 admission. I encourage all interested students to get in touch to learn more about the program and research in our lab.
